Beginning at approximately 6:00 PM yesterday, 31 July 2023, eruptive activity at Mayon became dominated by phases of intermittent ashing alongside increases in the apparent rates of lava effusion from the summit crater. The ashing phases lasted 1 to 43 minutes and consisted of 1 to 16 discrete events recorded as low-frequency volcanic earthquakes or LFVQs of typical 30 seconds to 1 minute and 17 seconds duration based on seismic and infrasound signal. Short, 100-meter gray ash plumes were produced that drifted to the general northeast. Shortly after ashing commenced, new lava began effusing rapidly from the crater and fed the established lava flows on the Bonga (southeastern), Mi-isi (south), and Basud (eastern) gullies as welll as frequent rockfall downslope. These lava flows have advanced respectively to 2.8 kilometers, 3.4 kilometers, and 600 meters from the crater. In sum, a total of two hundred fifty-eight (258) volcanic earthquakes including one (1) tremor event having duration of 1 minute and 30 seconds and two hundred fifty-six (256) LFVQs of fifty-seven (57) ashing events, and one hundred (100) rockfall events were recorded by the Mayon Volcano Network over the past 24-hour period. Volcanic sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission averaged 2,325 tonnes/day on 31 July 2023. Short-term observations from electronic tilt and GPS monitoring indicate a deflation of the eastern lower flanks in early July 2023 and inflation of the northwest middle flanks in the third week of July 2023. Longer-term ground deformation parameters from EDM, precise leveling, continuous GPS, and electronic tilt monitoring indicate that Mayon is still generally inflated relative to baseline levels.
Alert Level 3 is maintained over Mayon Volcano, which means that it is currently in a relatively high level of unrest and hazardous eruption within weeks or even days could still be possible. It is therefore recommended that the 6-km radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) remain evacuated due to the danger of PDCs, lava flows, rockfalls, and other volcanic hazards. Increased vigilance against pyroclastic density currents, lahars, and sediment-laden streamflows along channels draining the edifice is also advised. Heavy rainfall could generate channel-confined lahars and sediment-laden streamflows in channels where PDC deposits were emplaced. Civil aviation authorities must also advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit as ash from any sudden eruption can be hazardous to aircraft. Based on the current prevailing wind pattern, ash fall events may most likely occur on the south side of the volcano. DOST-PHIVOLCS maintains close monitoring of Mayon Volcano and any new development will be communicated to all concerned stakeholders.